The Gong meeting will be held at Kembla Grange this Saturday (25th Nov). The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with light showers in the Wollongong region, Kembla is likely to border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Lyrical Gangster could help punters to start off on a winning way in the opening event at Kembla (Kembla Grange Race 1, 2000m). The Waller-trained Proisir gelding won well last start coming from last to win over 1800m at Kensington. The 4YO can handle any track conditions and he has only been allotted with 52.5kg. And it’s a natural progression to step up to 2000m being 5th up on Saturday. Tyler Schiller will drop back in the field and bide his time and Lyrical Gangster will run over the top of this field.
Detonator Jack is set for a well-deserved win by taking out The Gong (Kembla Grange Race 7, 1600m). This gelding has been super consistent in black-type races. After finishing a nose 2nd in the Diamond Prelude, Detonator Jack was one of very few to make ground on the leaders to run 3rd in the Five Diamonds two weeks ago. Back to a mile should suit as he has won both starts over 1600m. Interestingly blinkers will go on the 5YO and that should also help. The in-form Jason Collett will be on board and he will settle somewhere mid-field. Watch Detonator Jack letting down strongly in the run home.
Bjorn Baker-trained Malkovich could win The Warra first-up on Saturday (Kembla Grange Race 8, 1000m). The 6YO did finish 5th in last year’s The Warra, and he subsequently won the Hawkesbury Rush first-up in the autumn. Malkovich has good record on Good and Soft tracks and 1000m is his pet distance with four wins and three 2nds over the trip. And the gelding has two good trials in preparation for his return. Regular rider Joshua Parr knows the horse well and he will go straight to the front and Malkovich is the one they have to catch. Currently at $12.00 fixed odds, Malkovich represents a value bet.
By Owens Wong
